• Bearman retired Lap 22
• Stroll retired lap 31

He promised he was going to make up for a disastrous start to his 2026 campaign and Oscar Piastri has not let us down after finishing second in the Japanese Grand Prix.

An incredible start saw the Australian claim the lead before the first turn as Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes teammate George Russell both endured horror starts but it was a safety car that denied Piastri the win.

"Turns out that when we start these things we're pretty good," he said after crossing the line behind Kimi Antonelli.

"Well done everyone, great weekend. We deserve that so thank you. Let's find some more pace and we will be doing this more often."

One the 22nd lap of the race, Haas driver Oli Bearman was involved in a horror crash which summoned the safety car; Piastri had just left the pits for fresh tyres.

So too had Russell.

It gifted the likes of Antonelli and Hamilton - who were first and second at the time – the chance of a cheap pit and the young Italian did not look back from that moment on as he went on to claim his second race win of the season and of his career.

It means that the teenager is now leading the drivers championship.

Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari completed the podium.

"It would have been really interesting to see what happened without the safety car," Piastri continued. "If I could have kept George behind. A shame we never got to see what would have happened but to be disappointed about being second is a good place to be.

"We did a good job of executing with what we had. We need to find a bit of performance but a good day."

While not as action packed as the first two races of the season in Australia and China, Japan did not disappoint and some vintage wheel-to-wheel racing from Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in their Ferraris was one of the many highlights.

So too the back and forth between Russell and Leclerc in the dying laps.

“Brave, brave, brave stuff from Charles,” Jenson Button said. “Old school, I like to see that in the drivers. This battle amazing.”

There were fears for Bearman after his 50G crash which left onlookers stunned and the young driver in the medical centre.

He was seen limping from his car as the safety car came onto the track though Haas later confirmed that x-rays had cleared him of any serious injuries.

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LAP 52 INSANE RACING

Leclerc v Russell. I'll be watching that replay for the rest of the evening.

Wonderful racing. Probably th ebest thing to come of these new rules is that they need to leave it all out there on the track. Drain the battery. Give it all and it's making for some of the most exciting race finishes.

LAP 46 ANTONELLI LEADS

OK seven laps to go and Piastri is driving sublimely. Holding himself in second and let's hope that's how this race finishes. I don't see how he wins.

Leclerc is closing in behind him from third but the gap is 1.9 seconds for now.

1. ANT
2. PIA
3. LEC
4. RUS
5. HAM
6. NOR
7. GAS
8. VER
9. LAW
10. OCO

LAP 42 HOLD YOUR BREATH

Anyone else just blurt out some rude words watching the Ferraris? They are wheel to wheel, I don't know how they have not wiped each other out but HOLY MOLY that was almost a double wipe out.

My heart rate is not good.

Lewis Hamilton v Charles Leclerc. Hook it up to my veins.

LAP 35 MCLAREN DISASTER

Well not a disaster but it's not great news.

McLaren have lost power on their pitwall. Not ideal. Sounds like chaos in the pitlane while their furiously try and get that sorted.

They have no data for their drivers. Hardly ideal with 18 laps to go and Piastri currently in 2nd chasing a first race finish and podium this year.

Pretty boring track this Japan one isn't it? Some bits of good racing and decent battles, but it's not been the greatest race so far (trying to tempt fate and spark some excitement).

LAP 33 BEARMAN UPDATE

Haas confirm it was a 50G impact into the barriers for Bearman. He has been x-rayed at the medical centre and has no fractures but a right knee contusion.

A relief all round and good news he has a five week break now to recover.

LAP 31 ANTONELLI LEADS

Oscar Piastri is not sticking to the track - Hamilton is telling on the Aussie and is he trying to get the McLaren driver in trouble. One to watch.

The Colapinto - Bearman incident that ended the latter's race was investigated by stewards and no further action will be taken.

Stroll has retired.

LAP 28 BACK RACING

The safety car is in and Antonelli didn't fluff his lines this time around, the Mercedes driver fast out and he is being chased by Pistri who is 1.6 seconds behind.

Hamilton restarts in third with russell fourth. A filthy Russell I might add.

YELLOW FLAG!!

Oli Bearman is out of the race. He is facing the wrong way in the track and the safety car has been deployed.

Bearman looks injured. he has got himself out of thecar but is limping and is now on the ground. medical staff are on their way.

Replays just shown; it was a very hard hit. That is a scary crash.

"That’s a big shunt for Oli," said Jenson Button. "The accidents where you just stop suddenly, they're the big ones. I know he’s hurt himself and his ankle but, relief."

Cheap pitstops all round and Russell is FILTHY! Hamilton and Antonelli the big winners.

LAP 21/53

TOP 10

1. Russell
2. Antonelli
3. Hamilton
4. Gasly
5. Piastri
6. Verstappen
7. Leclerc
8. Norris
9. Lawson
10. Bortoleto

LAP 20 RUSSELL LEADS

Piastri has pitted and that's the McLaren strategy then...a bit hit and hope but that's ok. Mercedes are saying Russell needs to extend his time on track.

Currently Antonelli's car is running significantly better than Russell's.

For now Piastri is 6th but he's in heavy traffic and needs to get moving.

LAP 15 PIASTRI LEADS

Piastri is on the radio saying he can hold on to this lead and the win - he they "maintain track position".

I'm one of those conspiracy theorists that likes to think that means "ignore Lando and focus on me".

What Piastri is saying is he wants to pit. Then he has to go all the way to the end on this set.

Norris is pitting now...makes sense he needs clean air.

LAP 9 YO YO LEADERS

An insane lunge from Russell sees Piastri lose his lead, a few turns later McLaren bunkers down on the power and reclaims it. Awesome side-by-side racing but what has it down to his battery? We will see.

Piastri retains the lead - for now.

A little further back there is an awesome battle between Leclerc, Norris and Antonelli for third.

LAP 1/RACE START

An incredible start from Piastri and he has taken the lead on the first turn having started from third! Dream start for the Aussie. Would you look at that!

Ferraris got a good start but hold their beer the McLarens have done well, Lando Norris now up to third!

Antonelli had a shocker. He was on pole and is now 6th!

Huge moment for Piastri - he has made it to the start line for the first time in 2026. Seems ridiculous that this is an achievement. But here we are.

Cars are ready. Expect chaos!

Max to Mercedes? No thanks:

This time last year Mercedes were understood to be actively engaging with Verstappen. Now? A very different story and Toto Wolff says he has not interest in the four-time champion.

"Someone said that the Max discussions will eventually come back on the table again. But no, there are not any Max discussions," Wolff said.

"I could not be happier with the two drivers that we have. The positioning of the two, with the age gap and how it aligns well with our strategy, means there are not any discussions.

"I respect Damon tremendously. I read his book, and I can relate to many things in his life. And he is a world champion, and there are not many that can say that."

McLAREN news:

Here's what CEO Zak Brown had to say ahead of the race:

"Their (Ferrari) starts are great, ours are good. It will be an exciting first couple of laps and we can have a good battle with the Ferrari today. I think Mercedes will be out of reach.

"Lando has also done a great job, Oscar has been on his A-Game which is not unusual.

"It is a concern – the start of the season, we have had reliability issues but I have faith in the men and women at McLaren. Hopefully we have a clean race today.

"I think we can catch them (Ferrari and Mercedes) not necessarily today – I have a lot of faith."

DELAYED START

Start of formation lap will be delayed due to barrier repairs ongoing at Turn 12 after an incident in a support category. Pit lane open timing for reconnaissance laps will also be delayed.

THE GRID